THE PROPHECY
THE PROPHECY
By E. L. TEDDY
When God wants to deal with a man,
He plays with his brain.
He turns his life around,
But He takes not the decision from him.
That is for the connected ones, anyway.
But there is another sect
Who has invented the in-between,
Neither for Paul nor for Apollos.
They don't know when they did it,
How they did it,
Why they did it?
They are for the fulfillment of the prophecy.
They know little or nothing about decision,
So they are being decided for.
Judas knew what would be for Christ,
But not as good as knowing
He would fulfill the prophecy.
The prophecy says,
He who kills by sword,
Sword shall he bow.
Little did I know
That the beholder's sword
Can devour the son of the beholder.
In my hand,
My power,
The thrust.
A butcher butchered by a butcher
Who never knew
He would butcher the butcher.
I have lived to fear
Not the prophecy,
But the fulfillment.
For I know not the time.
"I have lived to fear not the prophecy, but the fulfillment, for I know not the time."
ATMOSPHERE FOR PERFORMANCE
The atmosphere of The Prophecy is solemn, philosophical, prophetic, reflective, and spiritually intense. It creates a deep sense of caution as the reader journeys through the mysteries of divine purpose, human ignorance, destiny, and the frightening reality that one may unknowingly become the instrument through which prophecy finds fulfillment.
AUTHOR'S NOTES
I wrote The Prophecy after observing certain people whose lives seemed to be directed by forces they neither understood nor questioned. They acted, but could not explain why they acted. They made decisions, yet it appeared that their decisions had already been made for them.
As I reflected on this mystery, the story of Judas Iscariot came to mind. Here was a man who walked with Christ, heard His teachings, witnessed His miracles, and yet became the very instrument through which an ancient prophecy came to pass. I often ask myself whether Judas truly understood the weight of what he was doing or whether he was simply moving in ignorance until history remembered him forever.
I have also witnessed people whose wickedness became their own downfall. They believed themselves untouchable until they encountered someone through whom judgment unexpectedly arrived. Such experiences convinced me that there are individuals who surrender the government of their minds without knowing it, becoming vessels through which destruction fulfills its own prophecy.
This poem is therefore my meditation on free will, divine sovereignty, spiritual ignorance, and human responsibility. It is a reminder that while prophecy may be written, every individual should strive never to become its tragic fulfillment through carelessness, ignorance, or disobedience.
CONTENT ANALYSIS
The Prophecy is a deeply philosophical and theological poem that explores one of humanity's greatest mysteries: the relationship between divine purpose and human choice. The poem argues that while God may direct circumstances, He does not remove man's ability to decide. Yet there exists another category of people whose lives seem to drift without spiritual consciousness, making them instruments of events they neither understand nor control.
The opening stanza establishes this distinction immediately:
"When God wants to deal with a man, He plays with his brain. He turns his life around, but He takes not the decision from him."
The expression "plays with his brain" is symbolic rather than literal. It suggests divine influence upon human understanding, conviction, and perception. The poet carefully clarifies that God does not force obedience but transforms the inner man while preserving free will. This privilege, however, belongs to "the connected ones"—those who maintain a relationship with God.
The second stanza introduces another category of humanity, described as "the in-between."
"Neither for Paul nor for Apollos." This biblical allusion portrays people who possess no firm spiritual identity. They belong neither to the kingdom of light nor fully acknowledge the darkness they embrace. Their actions lack conscious conviction because they neither understand the source nor the consequence of what they do.
The repeated questions:
"They don't know when they did it, how they did it, why they did it," emphasizes spiritual ignorance. The poet presents such individuals as people whose moral compass has become disconnected, making them vulnerable to manipulation by unseen forces and circumstances.
Perhaps the most profound statement in the stanza is:
"They know little or nothing about decision, so they are being decided for." This philosophical declaration suggests that those who refuse the responsibility of conscious moral choice eventually surrender their agency. Instead of directing their own lives, they become directed by influences stronger than themselves.
The third stanza turns to Judas Iscariot, one of history's most tragic figures.
The poet observes that Judas understood certain prophetic realities surrounding Christ but failed to recognize that he himself would become the instrument through which prophecy would be fulfilled.
This distinction is crucial. Knowing prophecy is not equivalent to understanding one's place within it. Judas therefore becomes the symbol of every individual who participates in history without understanding the eternal consequences of his actions.
The fourth stanza shifts attention from betrayal to divine justice.
The prophecy declares:
"He who kills by sword, sword shall he bow." This echoes biblical teaching that violence often returns upon its author.
The poet then introduces an unexpected reflection:
"The beholder's sword can devour the son of the beholder." This line expands the principle beyond individual consequence, suggesting that the instruments of destruction often consume those closest to the destroyer. Violence rarely limits its victims to intended targets.
The image:
"A butcher butchered by a butcher who never knew he would butcher the butcher" is one of the poem's greatest paradoxes. The cycle of violence consumes both victim and perpetrator until the hunter becomes the hunted. The irony reveals that many agents of destruction ultimately become victims of the very system they helped sustain.
The final stanza provides the poem's philosophical climax.
"I have lived to fear not the prophecy, but the fulfillment." This statement shifts the reader's attention away from prediction toward participation. The poet does not fear what has been spoken but fears unknowingly becoming the person through whom it comes to pass.
The concluding line:
"For I know not the time." This line acknowledges human limitation before divine mystery. No one knows when the moment of testing will arrive, making spiritual vigilance an everyday necessity.
Ultimately, The Prophecy teaches that ignorance does not exempt one from responsibility. Every individual must consciously govern his choices lest he become an unconscious instrument of destruction, judgment, or destiny.
"God does not remove the power of choice from those who know Him. Rather, He guides their minds while preserving their freedom."
FORM AND STRUCTURE
The Prophecy is a five-stanza free verse poem. Its conversational movement gradually develops into philosophical meditation, allowing each stanza to build upon the previous one until reaching a profound theological conclusion.
SETTING
The poem possesses no fixed geographical setting. Its primary setting is psychological and spiritual, unfolding within the human conscience while drawing from biblical history and universal human experience.
THEMES
Divine Sovereignty and Human Free Will
The poem explores God's guidance without eliminating man's responsibility to choose.
Spiritual Ignorance
It examines the danger of living without awareness of one's actions or spiritual condition.
Fulfillment of Prophecy
The poem distinguishes between knowing prophecy and unknowingly becoming the means through which it is fulfilled.
Moral Responsibility
Every individual remains accountable for personal choices regardless of destiny or circumstance.
Retributive Justice
Violence and wickedness often return upon those who practice them.
Spiritual Vigilance
The work encourages believers to remain conscious of their actions lest they become instruments of evil unknowingly.
LANGUAGE AND STYLE
Diction
The diction is simple yet profoundly philosophical, blending biblical language with everyday expression to communicate complex theological ideas.
Tone
The tone is contemplative, cautionary, prophetic, and philosophical.
Mood
The poem creates a mood of sober reflection and spiritual self-examination.
FIGURES OF SPEECH/POETIC DEVICES
Biblical Allusion
References to Paul, Apollos, Judas Iscariot, and the teaching concerning the sword anchor the poem firmly within biblical tradition.
Symbolism
The sword symbolizes violence, judgment, and the consequences of human actions.
The brain symbolizes human reasoning and moral consciousness.
Paradox
The idea that one fears fulfillment more than prophecy presents a striking paradox that drives the poem's central message.
Irony
Judas walked with Christ yet became the instrument of His betrayal.
The butcher becomes the one butchered.
Metaphor
"God plays with his brain" metaphorically describes divine influence upon human understanding.
Repetition
The repeated references to prophecy and fulfillment reinforce the poem's central concern.
Philosophical Aphorism
"They know little or nothing about decision, so they are being decided for" functions as a memorable philosophical statement about the loss of moral agency.
CONCLUSION
The Prophecy is a profound meditation on destiny, responsibility, and spiritual awareness. Rather than presenting prophecy as something to fear, the poem redirects attention to the danger of unconscious participation in evil. It reminds readers that ignorance can become a pathway through which destruction fulfills itself.
Through biblical reflection, philosophical reasoning, and practical observation, the poet calls every individual to examine the source of his decisions and the direction of his life. The greatest protection against becoming the fulfillment of a tragic prophecy is a conscious relationship with God, a disciplined mind, and a heart willing to choose righteousness.
READER'S REFLECTION
- Have you ever paused to ask why you make certain decisions?
- Are they truly your own, or are they shaped by influences you have never examined?
The Prophecy challenges every reader to remain spiritually alert, to think before acting, and to pursue divine wisdom so as not to become an unwitting participant in a destiny that could have been avoided.
"There are people who make decisions, and there are people whose decisions are made for them because they are disconnected from divine understanding."
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